Spectacle, eyeglass, and like case.



C. N. DEXTER.

SPECTACLE, EYEGLASS, AND LIKE CASE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2H| I917.

Patented J an. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

C. N. DEXTER AND LIKE CASE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28.'19I7.

SPECTACLE, EYEGLASS Patented Ja n 28,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 wgarroa CHARLES NEAL DEXTER, F MITCHAM, ENGLAND.

SPECTACLE, EYEGLASS, AND LIKE CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed April 28, 1917. Serial No. 165,270.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES NEAL DEX- TER, a subject of His Majesty the King of England, and resident of Mitcham, in the county of Surrey, Kingdom of England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Connected with Spectacle, Eyeglass, and like Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in or connected with spectacle, eyeglass and like cases.

The invention has for its primary object to provide a spectacle, eyeglass or like case with improved, simple and inexpensive means whereby the lid or cover of same can be easily and quickly manipulated by one hand only and while the case is held in said hand.

The invention refers to pocket cases of the kind in ,which the cover or lid is held in both its closed and opened positions by means of a spring, and is characterized in that said said cover or lid is adapted to be opened by pressure upon a member acting upon the said a cover or lid at the back of the case.

The invention will now be described with.

reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate three suitable methods of carrying it into practice. In all of the figures the cases are shown with the covering material removed.

-In said drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one construction of the improved case and viewed toward the inside with the cover in a partly open or mid-open or neutral position, z. 6., in the only position at which there is no thrust exerted by the spring, any movement from this position closing or opening the cover to its full position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section on the line 2-3 of Fig. 1 showing the cover closed;

Fig. 3 is also an enlarged cross section on the line 23 of Fig. 1 with the cover fully open; and v Fig. 4 is a rear edge elevation of the case.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the case, showing the cover fully open;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section on the line 6-7 of Fig. 5 showing the cover open; and

Fig.- 7 is also an enlarged cross section on Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a further modified form of the case, showing the cover fully open;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross section on the line 9-10 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is also an enlarged cross section on the line 9-10 showing the cover closed.

Similar parts in all the figures are indicated by like reference letters.

In the three forms of the case shown in the drawings the cover or lid a is hinged at b to the body 0 of the case in usual or convenient manner, and the center of the back of said body is cut away, recessed or slotted at d adjacent to the hinge. A metal spring 6, e or 6 three forms of which are illustrated in the drawings, is fitted longitudinally of the case and across the cut-away portion, recess or slot cl and has its ends secured to two inwardly extending lugs or tongues 7 formed on the body 0, in which lugs the ends of the spring can revolve. The rear edge of the cover or lid a is formed or fitted with a finger piece, arm or loop g which extends for a short distance rearwardly of the cover, the body 0 and the hinge b and is bent to form a sleeve or tube h which embraces the spring 6, e or e at the center thereof. The spring 6, e or e is so arranged that it is always in compression in all positions of the cover or lid a and tends to maintain said cover or lid in both its closed and open positions. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive the wire spring 6 is bent upon itself to form a central loop 2'. In Figs. 5, 6 and .7 the wire spring 6' is cranked as at 7' and is of bow shape. The spring 6 of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is formed of helically coiled wire.

Assuming that the cover or lid a is closed Figs. 2, 4, 7, and 10, and the operating member or finger piece g, projectingslightly beyond the rear edge of the case, is pressed, the cover or lid a is caused to open on its hinge b, the member or finger piece, being part of the cover, to turn freely with the cover or lid through the same angle and to project into the body a of the case, Figs. 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9, through or in the cut-away portion, recess or slot d therein, and said member or finger piece to swing the spring e, e or e on its two fixed ends through an arc and past its normal or longitudinal center, such as in Fig. 1, from an outwardly extended arcuate condition, Figs. 2, 4, 7 and 10, to an i 55 the line 6-7 showing the cover closed. wardly extended arcuate condition, Figs. 3,

5, 6, 89 and 9. ,The 'factthatithe;springe, e or e is always in compressionand is moved through an are from one arcuate condition to another provides means whereby the cover or lid a automaticallysnaps into its full open and full closed positions When moved past its dead center by means of the operating member 9 and by hand, respectively, and is retained in said positions Without the assistance of catches or other fastening devices.

By the provision of means described above the case can be held in one hand-between the thumb and the first and third fingers and the operating member or finger piece 9 can be actuated by the second-finger .to open the cover or lid a, and the coveror lid be shut by closing or enveloping the case Within the hand.

What I claim is 1. In a case of the character described, a body, a cover hinged to the body a spring fitted Within the body and held under compression at all'times and adapted to retain the cover in both open and'closed position, and a finger piece secured to thecover, said finger piece engaging the spring so that When the cover is closed pressure upon the finger piece moves the spring'past its dead center thereby causing the cover to open.

2. In a caseof the character described, a

'body,.a cover hinged to the body, a spring fitted Within the body and held under compression at all-times and adapted to retain the cover in both open and closed positions, and a finger piece secured to the cover and projecting outwardly therefrom at the hinged edge, said finger piece engaging the spring so'that when the cover is closed the finger piece and spring project beyond the cover and body whereby pressure upon the finger piece moves thespring past its dead center causing the cover to open.

3. In a case ofthecharacter described, a body, a coverhinged to the body, one of said elements having a slot, a spring fitted Within the body and adapted to hold the cover in' both open and closed positions, anda finger piece secured to the coverat' the hinged-edge thereof and extending rearwardly of the vcover andbelow the hinge-and Working through said slot, said finger piece being connected to the sprlng so that when the cover is closed, pressure upon the finger piece moves "'Gopies'of this patent-maybe obtainedrztorifiveacents each, by addressing the at each end to the body and -Which embraces the spring at the center thereof, so that when the cover is bod -thecover in both'open and and a finger piece secured the spring past its dead center thereby causingthe cover to open.

hInwa caseof the character described, a body, a cover hinged to the body, said body having-a slot contiguous to the hinge connecting the cover and body, a spring secured extending across the slot longitudinally therewith, said spring being adapted to hold the cover in both open and closed positions, and a finger piece secured to the cover at the-hinged edge, said finger piece being provided With a sleeve, substantially closed, pressure upon the finger piece moves the spring past its dead center and opens the cover.

5. In a-case ofthe character described, a body, a cover hinged to the body, said body having a cut-away portion adjacent the hinge, a spring secured to the body across said out-away portion, said spring being adapted to hold the cover in both open and closed positions, and a finger plece secured to the cover and engaging the springat the cut-away portion, so that When the cover is closed, pressure on the finger piece causes the spring'to move in anarcuate path and through the cut-away portion, said. spring moving froman outwardly extended position'projecting from the body past its dead center to an inwardly extended position Within the body.

I 6.In a case ofthe character described, a body, a cover hinged to the body, said body having a cut-away portion adjacent the hinge, a spring secured at each end to the y and extending across said cut-away portion, said spring being adapted to hold closed positions, to the cover. at the hinged edge thereof andextending rear- Wardly of the cover through the cut-away portion and below the hinge, said'finger piece being connected With the spring, intermediate of'itsends, so that when the cover is closedand pressure is applied to the finger piece, the latter Will move With the spring into-the body through the cut-away In testimony whereof I have hereunto slgnecl my name.

commissioner ref Eatents,

Washingten; E la-G? 

